iXsystems FreeNAS Mini Released

iXsystems has announced that their new FreeNAS Mini home and small office storage solution is now available. The new 4-bay Mini, which boasts an 8-Core 2.4GHz Intel CPU and dual Gigabit network links, was designed from the ground up and extensively based on feedback received from the FreeNAS community. Aside from the powerful CPU, the Mini features 16GB of RAM (upgradable to 32GB) which combined with the latest version of FreeNAS, should make the device one of the fastest desktop form factor NAS units on the market. 

iXsystems has announced that their new FreeNAS Mini home and small office storage solution is now available. The new 4-bay Mini, which boasts an 8-Core 2.4GHz Intel CPU and dual Gigabit network links, was designed from the ground up and extensively based on feedback received from the FreeNAS community. Aside from the powerful CPU, the Mini features 16GB of RAM (upgradable to 32GB) which combined with the latest version of FreeNAS, should make the device one of the fastest desktop form factor NAS units on the market.

The most significant upgrade of the FreeNAS Mini is the addition of ECC RAM, which prevents in-flight corruption of data before the error-correcting properties of ZFS come into play. Additionally, its 8-Core CPU is a substantial upgrade compared to its predecessor’s two cores. This enhancement was added in response to demands for a CPU that can support both the IO and encryption demands of ZFS and the parallel processing requirements of many FreeNAS plugins. The 8-core processor is also capable of multiple HD streams simultaneously and its advanced encryption instructions make data encryption just as fast as writing the data in the clear. iXsystems doubled the RAM to 16GB in response to numerous requests for a Mini that leverages the full power of ZFS, without the footprint of a full-size server.

Key features of the new FreeNAS mini:

• Power Efficient Eight-Core 2.4GHz CPU, drawing only 17 Watts
• Hardware-accelerated ZFS disk encryption
• 16GB of ECC memory for max performance and data protection (upgradeable to 32GB)
• Hot swap functionality with tool-less, front loading drive bays
• Capable of Saturating Dual Intel Gigabit LAN Ports
• Dedicated Remote Hardware Management Port (IPMI) or option to share through on-board LAN
• Latest FreeNAS version installed and configured on dedicated, internal flash device
• 3 x USB 2.0 Ports (2 front, 1 rear), 1 x Serial Port (DB9), 1 x VGA
• Physical security: locking front bezel, latchable drive trays, and chassis lock eyelet (for cable or padlock)

Specifications

• Chassis Type: 4 Bay Enclosure – Super Quiet Design
• Maximum Capacity: Up to 16TB depending on RAID layout.
• CPU: 8-Core 2.4GHz Intel CPU with AES-NI
• Memory: 16GB DDR3 with ECC standard, 32GB upgrade optional
• RAID Level: RAID-Z (RAID 5), ZFS Mirror (RAID 10), ZFS Stripe
• RAID Engine: ZFS
• Network: 2 x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Port
• Dedicated RJ-45 IPMI Port (Remote Hardware Management)
• Hard Drive Trays: 4 x SATA 3.5” Hot-Swappable Drive Bays
• Power Supply: 100V to 240V AC
• Power Frequency: 50/60 HZ, Single Phase
• Power Consumption: 37-47W
• User Control Interface: Web Browser and Remote Hardware Management
• Dimension (in.) 9.45" W x 8.27 " D x 9.45" H (240 x 210 x 240mm)
• Weight (lb): 10.8lb (without drives)
• Certifications: CE, FCC, UL, RoHS
• Package Contents:
  • FreeNAS Mini (1)
  • Power Cord (1)
  • Quick Start Guide (1)
  • Case Door Key (2)
  • Removable Disk Tray (4)
  • Goodies! (?)
• Limited Warranty: 1 Year

Pricing and availability

The new FreeNAS Mini is now available in the following capacities and prices: 16TB (4 x 4TB Drives at $1895), 12TB (4 x 3TB Drives at $1695), 8TB (4 x 2TB Drives at $1495), 4TB (4 x 1TB Drives at $1295), and a bare-bones model with no included drives at $995.

UPDATE 4/12/2014 – iXsystems FreeNAS Mini Review Posted

Product Page